Steel
The steel at the core
In a damascus knife, the patterned outer layers are decoration and protection. The edge is made of a single core steel. 65 % of the 6,741 listings we surveyed name it. Here is what each of those steels is, and what it costs.
Survey of 14 November 2026Source : methodology
2175 listings
VG10
stainless steel
59-61 HRC
Chef : $207
↗501 listings59-61 HRC
Chef : $207
SG2
stainless powder steel
62-64 HRC
Chef : $382
↗462 listings62-64 HRC
Chef : $382
10Cr15CoMoV
stainless steel
58-61 HRC
Chef : $67
↗283 listings58-61 HRC
Chef : $67
AUS10
stainless steel
58-60 HRC
Chef : $229
↗199 listings58-60 HRC
Chef : $229
VG-MAX
proprietary stainless steel
60-61 HRC
Chef : $175
↗126 listings60-61 HRC
Chef : $175
Aogami
carbon steel, not stainless
61-65 HRC
Chef : $294
↗46 listings61-65 HRC
Chef : $294
ZDP-189
stainless powder steel
64-67 HRC
Chef : $690
↗64-67 HRC
Chef : $690
Chef knife medians are for the US market. Steel names are the sellers' own statements.